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United States Patent |
6,260,295
|
Nickel
|
July 17, 2001
|
Scorch preventing electric flatiron
Abstract
An electric flatiron which substantially eliminates the scorching or
burning of fabric material to be ironed. The electric flatiron comprises a
housing having a handle attached thereto, a metallic sole plate in
electrical contact with electric leads, and spring urged glide assemblies
secured to the housing and up to 2.5 centimeters or one inch adapted to
extend below the lower surface of the sole plate when there is no or
little pressure upon the handle of the housing but moves upwardly in
alignment with the lower surface of the sole plate when pressure is placed
upon the handle of the housing during the ironing process.
Inventors:
|
Nickel; Charles A. (Huntsville, AL)
|
Assignee:
|
The Nickelworks, Inc. (Huntsville, AL)
|
Appl. No.:
|
640160 |
Filed:
|
August 16, 2000 |
Current U.S. Class: |
38/79 |
Intern'l Class: |
D06F 075/40 |
Field of Search: |
38/79,96,97,75
219/259
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
222849 | Dec., 1879 | Welch | 38/93.
|
1920668 | Aug., 1933 | Reed | 38/79.
|
2036504 | Apr., 1936 | Sarringar | 38/79.
|
2072217 | Mar., 1937 | Reed | 38/79.
|
2076614 | Apr., 1937 | Bowman | 38/74.
|
2149251 | Mar., 1939 | Campana | 38/79.
|
2224896 | Dec., 1940 | Burian | 38/79.
|
2470532 | May., 1949 | Thomas | 38/79.
|
2501549 | Mar., 1950 | Swenson | 38/79.
|
2596314 | May., 1952 | Wales | 38/79.
|
2712703 | Jul., 1955 | Hilldale | 38/79.
|
2770059 | Nov., 1956 | Brace | 38/79.
|
3192654 | Jul., 1965 | Weaver | 38/77.
|
5966851 | Oct., 1999 | Serpa | 38/79.
|
6105285 | Aug., 2000 | Nickel | 38/76.
|
Primary Examiner: Izaguirre; Ismael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Waddy & Patterson, P.C., Garvin, Jr.; John C.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
09/250,319 filed Feb. 16, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,285.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electric flatiron comprising a metallic sole plate having a lower
surface and a plurality of steam emitting openings therein, a molded
housing overlying and secured to said sole plate, a handle fixed to said
molded housing, and resilient means for automatically lifting said sole
plate above the material to be ironed to prevent scorching or burning of
the material being ironed, said resilient means including a member in
spaced relationship with said molded housing and said sole plate and
partially surrounding said sole plate, said resilient means further
including a plurality of protrusions fixed to said molded housing, an
aperture in each of said protrusions, a rod passing through each of said
apertures, a compression spring positioned over a portion of each of said
rods for acting on a respective said protrusion and said member for
normally urging said member away from said sole plate.
2. The electric flatiron of claim 1 wherein each of said rods has external
threads at its upper end and is secured at its lower end to said member
which partially surrounds said sole plate.
3. The electric flatiron of claim 2 wherein said resilient means further
includes an internally threaded nut mounted on said upper threaded end of
each said rod for adjusting the amount of compression upon said member
which partially surrounds said sole plate to change the spaced
relationship between said member and said sole plate.
4. The electric flatiron of claim 3 wherein said member which partially
surrounds said sole plate is made of metal.
5. An electric steam iron having at least two modes of ironing operation,
said iron comprising a metallic sole plate having a lower surface and a
plurality of spaced steam emitting openings therein, a housing overlying
and secured to said sole plate, a handle fixed to said housing, and
resilient means associated with said housing, said resilient means
including a member in spaced relationship with said sole plate and said
housing responsive to pressure applied to said handle for selectively
lifting and lowering said sole plate to control possible scorching or
burning of material being ironed.
6. The electric iron of claim 5 wherein said sole plate is adapted to
engage the material being ironed in one of said ironing modes of operation
and disengaging the material being ironed in another of said modes of
operation.
7. The electric iron of claim 5 wherein said resilient means further
includes a plurality of protrusions fixed to said housing, an aperture in
each of said protrusions, and a rod passing through each of said
apertures, a compression spring positioned over each of said rods for
acting on a respective said protrusion and said member in spaced
relationship with said sole plate and said housing for normally urging
said member away from said sole plate.
8. The electric iron of claim 7 wherein said member in spaced relationship
with said sole plate and said housing partially surrounds said sole plate
and wherein each of said rods has external threads at its upper end and is
secured at its lower end to said member which partially surrounds said
sole plate.
9. The electric iron of claim 8 wherein said resilient means further
includes an internally threaded nut mounted on said upper threaded end of
each said rod for adjusting the amount of compression upon said member
which partially surrounds said sole plate to change the spaced
relationship between said member and said sole plate.
10. The electric iron of claim 9 wherein said member which partially
surrounds said sole plate is made of metal.
11. In combination with an electric steam iron having a metallic sole plate
with a plurality of spaced steam emitting openings therein, said electric
steam iron having at least two modes of ironing operation, a housing with
a handle and a plurality of protrusions, and resilient means associated
with said protrusions for normally lifting the sole plate of the steam
iron above the material being ironed during one of said modes of operation
to allow said sole plate to be disengaged from said material being ironed
to prevent scorching or burning of the material being ironed, said
resilient means including a member in spaced relationship with said molded
housing and said sole plate.
12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said member in spaced relationship
with said molded housing and said sole plate partially surrounds said sole
plate.
13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said resilient means further
includes a plurality of protrusions extending from said housing, an
aperture in each of said protrusions, a rod passing through each of said
apertures, a compression spring positioned over a portion of each of said
rods for acting on a respective said protrusion and said member for
normally urging said member away from said sole plate.
14. The combination of claim 13 wherein each of said rods has an upper and
lower end with external threads on its said upper end and said lower ends
being secured to said member which partially surrounds said sole plate.
15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said resilient means further
includes an internally threaded nut mount on said upper threaded end of
each said rod for adjusting the amount of compression upon said member
which partially surrounds said sole plate to change the spaced
relationship between said member and said sole plate.
16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said member partially surrounds
said sole plate is made of metal.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an electric flatiron and more
particularly to an electric flatiron which is adapted to be automatically
raised above the fabric material being ironed a sufficient distance to
eliminate or reduce the possibility that the fabric or other material
being ironed will be scorched or burned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A search of U.S. patents for electric flatirons which incorporate structure
which permits the lowering and raising of the hot sole plate of the
flatiron into and out of contact with the material being ironed produced
the following U.S. patents somewhat pertinent to applicant's invention,
namely: U.S. Pat. No. 2,072,217 to Reed, U.S. Pat. No. 2,076,614 to
Bowman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,712,703 to Hilldale, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,059
to Brace.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,072,217 to Reed is directed to a detachable lift for a
flatiron for selectively raising and lowering the sole plate of the
flatiron into and out of engagement with the material to be ironed
dependent upon the application of pressure, or release thereof, from the
handle of the flatiron. The raising of the sole plate of the flatiron from
engagement with the material to be ironed eliminates the possibility of
burning or scorching of the material to be ironed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,076,614 to Bowman is directed to a flatiron mounted on a
spring-urged sub-base which is adapted to engage the material to be
ironed. The sub-base can be selectively forced and locked into intimate
contact with the sole plate of the flatiron to facilitate the transfer of
heat from the sole plate to the sub-base by downward pressure of the
handle of the flatiron during the ironing process. When the ironing
process is completed and pressure is removed from the handle, the springs
will force the flatiron up to provide clearance between the sub-base and
the sole plate to eliminate the possibility of scorching or burning of the
material to be ironed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,712,703 to Hilldale and U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,059 to Brace
are directed to flatirons having mechanisms incorporated therein for
selectively lowering and raising the hot sole plate of the flatiron into
and out of contact with the material to be ironed. When the sole plate of
the flatiron is raised out of contact with the material to be ironed or
the cover of the ironing board itself, there is little likelihood of
scorching or burning of either the material or the cover.
These prior art flatirons have presented many problems and disadvantages
particularly when compared to the improved flatiron of the present
invention. Each of the flatirons or attachments therefor disclosed in
these prior art patents serves as standard flatirons with their
accompanying problems of scorching or burning of materials. The primary
feature of each of these prior art devices resides in a safety feature
operable either before or after ironing which involve the lifting of the
sole plate or the heating element away from the material being ironed.
There is a need, therefore, for a relatively inexpensive electric flatiron
of simple construction which substantially eliminates the scorching or
burning of material to be ironed. This is especially so when the material
to be ironed is silk, rayon or the like. The electric flatiron of the
present invention fulfills these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-5, a simple
and inexpensive flatiron is provided which substantially eliminates the
scorching or burning of fabric material to be ironed. The flatiron of the
present invention generally comprises a metallic sole plate with a
plurality of spaced bores therein, a conventional molded housing having a
handle, and spring urged ball bearing glide assemblies mounted within each
spaced bore within the sole plate having heating elements therein which
are in electrical contact in a conventional fashion to electrical leads.
When incorporated in a flatiron of the steam variety, the present
invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, has two modes of operation during the
ironing process, namely: a natural up-mode wherein the flatiron rides on a
plurality of ball bearing glide assemblies with balls which extend below
the lower surface of the sole plate to hold the lower surface of the sole
plate out of contact with the material being ironed; and a down-mode of
operation wherein pressure upon the handle of the flatiron causes the
balls of the ball bearing glide assembles to be retracted upwardly beyond
the lower surface of the sole plate to allow the sole plate to engage the
material being ironed. When the flatiron is in its natural up-mode of
operation, it possesses the unique capability of steam ironing fabric
materials such as nylon, silk, and rayon, which normally scorch or burn
easily, without burning or scorching the material being ironed. When the
flatiron is in its natural up-mode of operation, the flatiron rides or
glides on the balls of ball bearing glide assemblies during the ironing
process, with the sole plate being out of engagement with the material
being ironed, to eliminate or reduce the possibility of the material being
scorched or burned. This raising of the flatiron off of the material being
ironed also improves the steam action. When ironing material that is not
easily scorched or burned as is nylon, silk or rayon, the user can apply
pressure to the handle of the flatiron to place the flatiron in its
down-mode of operation wherein the sole plate actually engages the
material being ironed during the ironing process. When a user is not
actually engaged in the ironing process, the user's release of the handle
of the flatiron will cause the balls of the ball bearing glide assemblies
to be extended beyond the lower surface of the sole plate to hold the sole
plate out of contact with the material and/or the ironing board.
In accordance with the present invention as shown in FIGS. 6-9, a simple
and inexpensive flatiron is provided which substantially eliminates the
scorching or burning of fabric material to be ironed. The flatiron of the
present invention as shown in FIGS. 6-9 generally comprises a conventional
metallic sole plate having heating elements therein which are in
electrical contact in a conventional fashion to electrical leads, a
conventional molded housing having a handle, and a spring urged skirt
secured to the molded housing.
When incorporated in a flatiron of the steam variety, the present invention
has two modes of operation during the ironing process, namely: a natural
up-mode wherein the flatiron rides on the skirt which extends below the
lower surface of the sole plate to hold the lower surface of the sole
plate out of contact with the material being ironed; and a down-mode of
operation wherein pressure upon the handle of the flatiron causes the
spring urged skirt to be retracted upwardly in alignment with the lower
surface of the sole plate to allow the sole plate to engage the material
being ironed. When the flatiron is in its natural up-mode of operation,
its possesses the unique capability of steam ironing fabric materials such
as nylon, silk, and rayon, which normally scorch or burn easily, without
burning or scorching the material being ironed. When the flatiron is in
its natural up-mode of operation, the flatiron rides on the skirt during
the ironing process, with the sole plate being out of engagement with the
material being ironed, to eliminate or reduce the possibility of the
material being scorched or burned. This raising of the flatiron off of the
material being ironed also improves the steam action. When ironing
material that is not easily scorched or burned as is nylon, silk or rayon,
the user can apply pressure to the handle of the flatiron to place the
flatiron in its down-mode of operation wherein the sole plate actually
engages the material being ironed during the ironing process. When a user
is not actually engaged in the ironing process, the user's release of the
handle of the flatiron will cause the skirt to be extended well beyond the
lower surface of the sole plate to hold the sole plate out of contact with
the material and/or ironing board.
The flatiron of the present invention, in all of its embodiments, is an
innovative improvement in ironing all fabrics and similar materials. A
principal advantage of the present invention over prior art flatirons is
in its ability to glide or ride over many fabrics, such as silk, rayon,
and screen printed logos, that are problems for conventional prior art
irons. The flatiron of the present invention irons such fabrics without
melting or streaking the fabrics. The flatiron of the present invention
can steam out wrinkles without overheating the fabrics because its hot
sole plate will not touch the fabric. The flatiron of the present
invention can also be used as an ordinary iron by lightly applying
pressure downwardly to the handle and causing the sole plate to have
surface to surface contact with the fabric being ironed. The flatiron of
the present invention also has a safety feature in that, left unattended,
the flatiron of the present invention will not burn or scorch fabrics
and/or the ironing board or start a fire in that the heating surface (sole
plate) is in its normally raised position well above any fabric and/or
ironing board. Further, the flatiron of the present invention does not
need to rest on its heel which can be an unstable position for the
flatiron.
In use, the hot sole plate in the fourth embodiment of the present
invention is capable of riding up to 2.5 centimeters or one inch above the
fabric being ironed. The space between the hot sole plate and the fabric
being ironed is maintained as the outer skirt on which the flatiron rides
compresses the fabric being ironed while allowing steam to reach the
fabric being ironed. The outer skirt is preferably made of a metallic
material the same or very similar to that of the sole plate. Since there
is no metallic contact between the hot sole plate and the outer skirt no
heat is being conducted to the outer skirt.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a scorch
preventing electric flatiron made up of readily available, inexpensive,
components and capable of being assembled by a relatively inexperienced
person.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electric
flatiron which is adapted to automatically raise the hot sole plate of the
flatiron above the material being ironed when hand pressure is removed
from the handle of the flatiron.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric
flatiron which can ride or glide on the balls of ball bearing glide
assemblies during one mode of operation of the ironing process to hold the
sole plate of the flatiron out of contact with the material being ironed
to reduce or eliminate the possibility of scorching or burning of the
material being ironed.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electric
flatiron which will permit the balls of the ball bearing glide assemblies
incorporated in the flatiron to move or recede upwardly to the lower
surface of the sole plate during one mode of operation to allow the lower
surface of the sole plate to engage the material being ironed during the
ironing process.
It is also an object of the invention as shown in FIGS. 6-9 to provide an
electric flatiron which can ride on a spring urged outer skirt during one
mode of operation of the ironing process to hold the sole plate of the
flatiron out of contact with the material being ironed to reduce or
eliminate the possibility of scorching or burning of the material being
ironed.
It is still yet another object of the invention as shown in FIGS. 6-9 to
provide an electric flatiron which will permit the spring urged outer
skirt associated with the flatiron to move upwardly to a plane equal to
the lower surface of the sole plate during one mode of operation to allow
the lower surface of the sole plate to engage the material being ironed
during the ironing process.
These objects as well as other objects of the present invention will become
more readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away and in cross
section, of an electric flatiron incorporating a first embodiment of the
invention and showing the balls of the ball bearing glide assemblies in
their extended position.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the sole plate of a conventional flatiron
showing the bores therein, the water reservoir and the openings for
emitting steam.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the ball bearing glide assembly,
the sole plate and a plastic sheet incorporated in the first embodiment of
the invention.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross sectional, view of the sole plate,
a plastic sheet and a ball bearing glide assembly incorporated in the
second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross sectional, view of the sole plate,
a plastic sheet, and a ball bearing glide assembly incorporated in a third
embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective, partially broken away, view of a fourth embodiment
of an electric steam iron of the present invention showing the outer skirt
in an extended position.
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the fourth embodiment of the invention
depicted in FIG. 6 showing the outer skirt in its retracted position.
FIG. 8 is a bottom, partially broken away, view of the fourth embodiment of
the electric steam iron depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 and showing its sole
plate, water reservoir, the openings for emitting steam, and the outer
skirt.
FIG. 9 is a side elevational, partially broken away and in cross section,
view of the fourth embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 6-8
showing the outer skirt in an extended position together with the details
of the skirt supporting means.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates a
conventional electric flatiron having the first embodiment of the present
invention incorporated therein. The conventional electric flatiron 10
generally comprises a metallic sole plate 12 having heating elements (not
shown) incorporated therein in electrical contact in a conventional
fashion to electrical leads 32, a plastic sheet 24 overlying the sole
plate 12 for restricting the transfer of heat from sole plate 12 to other
parts of flatiron 10 which are located above the plastic sheet 24, a
molded housing 28 having a handle 30 located above the plastic sheet 24, a
water inlet 34 in communication with a water regulator 36 and a main water
source (not shown) within molded housing 28 in communication with a water
reservoir 16 incorporated in the upper surface 14 of sole plate 12, and a
plurality of spaced openings 22 (FIG. 2) in sole plate 12 for emitting
steam onto a fabric material (not shown) to be ironed. The structure
described hereinabove constitutes the major parts of a conventional steam
electric flatiron 10. A conventional flatiron which does not emit steam
generally incorporates the same structure as that described for a
conventional steam flatiron except for the water inlet 34, main water
source (not shown), main water regulator 36, water reservoir 16 and the
plurality of spaced openings 22 in the sole plate 12.
The first embodiment of the improvement to the conventional flatiron 10,
whether of the steam or non-steam variety, is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
In the improved version of flatiron 10, a plurality of spaced bores 20 and
26 are provided in metallic sole plate 12 and plastic sheet 24, with a
spaced bore 20 in sole plate 12 being in alignment with a spaced bore 26
in plastic sheet 24. As best seen in FIG. 3, the sole plate 12 has a
projection 21 which protrudes within each bore 20 of sole plate 12
adjacent its lower surface 18. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, a ball
bearing glide assembly 40 is frictionally fit within each of aligned bores
20 and 26. Each ball bearing glide assembly 40 comprises a hollow sleeve
42 having an upper end 44 and a lower end 48; a round ball 52 mounted
partially within each hollow sleeve 42; a cap 46 secured to the upper end
44 of hollow sleeve 42; and a compression spring 54 mounted within each
hollow sleeve 42 and being in contact with a respective round ball 52 and
cap 46. In the first embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS.
1-3, the round balls 52 normally protrude beyond the under surface 14 of
metallic sole plate 12 in the order of 3.175 millimeters to 6.35
millimeters or one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch due to the urging of a
respective compression spring 54. The inwardly protruding projections 21
on sole plate 12 retain the balls 52 within a respective sleeve 42.
In the second embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 4,
reference numeral 56 designates a metallic sole plate having an under
surface 59 and a plurality of bores 58 therein, and a plurality of ball
bearing glide assemblies 62. Each ball bearing glide assembly 62 of the
second embodiment comprises a hollow sleeve 64 having an upper end 66 and
a lower end 70 with an inwardly protruding projection 71; a cap 68 secured
to the upper end 66 of sleeve 64; a round ball 72 adjacent the lower end
70 of hollow sleeve 64; and a compression spring 74 mounted within each
hollow sleeve 64 for acting on a respective cap 68 and ball 72 to normally
urge a respective ball 72 such that it protrudes beyond the undersurface
59 of sole plate 56 in the order of one-eighth to one-quarter inches. The
inwardly protruding projection 71 on the lower end 70 of each hollow
sleeve 64 retains a respective ball 72 within a respective hollow sleeve
64.
In the third embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 5, an
insert 76, preferably made of nylon or a suitable plastic material, is
provided between each compression spring 74 and each ball 72 to assist in
avoiding possible corrosion of compression spring 74 from steam being
emitted from the flatiron 10. It is to be understood that the insert 76
could be used in all embodiments of the invention including that depicted
in FIGS. 1 and 3.
The round balls 52 and 72 are preferably made from ceramic or glass but
they could be made from stainless steel or other suitable material. Balls
52 and 72 made from a ceramic or glass material are preferable in that
they would be less likely to retain or transmit heat. Sheet 24 is
preferably made from a thermoplastic material in that such will not be
detrimentally affected by the heat coming from metallic sole plate 12.
The embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3 can be operated
in either of two modes, namely: a natural up-mode when ironing material
such as nylon, silk and rayon which can be easily scorched or burned, and
a down-mode when ironing material such as cotton which is less likely to
scorch or burn. In the natural up-mode, each ball 52, due to the ball 52
being urged beyond the lower surface 18 of metallic sole plate 12 by a
compression spring 54, rides or glides over the material being ironed and
in spaced relation thereto to reduce or eliminate the possibility of
scorching or burning of a material being ironed when such material is
nylon, silk or rayon. In the down-mode when a person applies pressure upon
handle 30 of flatiron 10 during the actual ironing process, the pressure
upon the handle 30 will cause the balls 52 to rise against the urging of
compression springs 54 to allow the lower surface 18 of metallic sole
plate 12 to engage the material to be ironed during the ironing process.
When the person releases the pressure upon handle 30 of flatiron 10, the
compression springs 54 will urge the balls 52 in the order of 3.175
millimeters to 6.35 millimeters or one-eighth to one-quarter inch below
the lower surface 18 of metallic sole plate 12 to disengage contact
between lower surface 18 of metallic sole plate 12 or 56 with the material
to be ironed. The inwardly protruding projections 21 hold the balls 52
partially within the hollow sleeves 42 of glide assemblies 40.
The embodiments of the invention depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 can likewise be
operated in two modes, namely a natural up-mode when ironing materials
such as nylon, silk and rayon which can be easily scorched or burned, and
a down-mode when ironing materials such as cotton which is less likely to
scorch or burn. In the natural up-mode of operation, each ball 72, due to
the ball 72 being urged beyond the lower surface 59 of metallic sole plate
56 by a compression spring 74, rides or glides over the material being
ironed and in spaced relation thereto to reduce or eliminate the
possibility of scorching or burning of a material being ironed when such
material is nylon, silk or rayon or similar material. In the down-mode,
when a person applies pressure upon handle 30 of flatiron 10 during the
actual ironing process, the pressure upon the handle 30 will cause the
balls 72 to rise against the urging of compression springs 74 to allow the
lower surface 59 of metallic sole plate 56 to engage the material to be
ironed during the ironing process. When the person releases the pressure
upon handle 30 of flatiron 10, the compression springs 74 will urge the
balls 72 in the order of 3.175 millimeters to 6.35 millimeters or
one-eighth to one-quarter inch below the lower surface 59 of metallic sole
plate 56 to disengage contact between lower surface 59 of metallic sole
plate 56 with the material to be ironed. The inwardly protruding
projections 71 hold the balls 72 partially within the hollow sleeves 64 of
the glide assemblies 62.
FIGS. 6-9 illustrate, by way of example, a fourth embodiment of the
flatiron 100 of the present invention. As best seen in FIG. 6, flatiron
100 generally comprises a metallic sole plate 102 with a lower surface 103
(FIGS. 6 and 8) having heating elements (not shown) incorporated therein
in electrical contact in a conventional fashion to electrical leads 104, a
plastic sheet (not shown) overlying the sole plate 102 for restricting the
transfer of heat from sole plate 102 to other parts of flatiron 100 which
are located above the sole plate 102 and the plastic sheet, a molded
housing 106 having a handle 108, a water inlet 110 in communication with a
water regulator 112 and a water source reservoir 114 within molded housing
106 incorporated above the upper surface of sole plate 102, and a
plurality of spaced openings 105 (FIG. 8) in sole plate 102 for emitting
steam onto a fabric material (not shown) to be ironed. The structure
described hereinabove constitutes the major parts of most conventional
steam electric flatirons 100. The improvements to the conventional steam
electric flatiron 100 generally includes a plurality of
non-heat-transmitting projections 115 secured to or made integral with the
molded housing 106, an opening 116 (FIG. 9) in each projection 115, a
skirt 126 which partially surrounds the sole plate 102 and whose inner
dimensions are substantially larger than the outer dimensions of the sole
plate 102, a plurality of skirt support members, rods, or bolts 128 which
extend upwardly through the opening 116 in each projection 115, a coiled
compression spring 130 mounted on and surrounding a portion of the skirt
supporting members or rods 128, and an adjustment element or nut 132
mounted on each skirt supporting member or rod 128. A protective cap 129
(FIG. 9) may be placed on the upper end of each rod or bolt 128. As is
apparent from FIGS. 6-9, the coiled compression springs 130 normally urge
the skirt 126 downwardly and away from the sole plate 102.
The embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 6-9 can be operated in
either of two modes, namely: a natural up-mode when ironing material such
as nylon, silk and rayon which can be easily scorched or burned, and a
down-mode when ironing material such as cotton which is less likely to
scorch or bum. In the natural up-mode, the skirt 126 due to it being urged
below the lower surface 103 of metallic sole plate 102 by the coiled
compression springs 130 rides over the material being ironed and in spaced
relation thereto to reduce or eliminate the possibility of scorching or
burning of a material being ironed when such material is nylon, silk or
rayon. In the down-mode when a person applies pressure upon handle 108 of
flatiron 100 during the actual ironing process, the pressure upon the
handle 108 will cause the skirt 126 to move against the urging of coiled
compression springs 130 to allow the lower surface 103 of metallic sole
plate 102 to engage the material to be ironed during the ironing process.
When the person releases the pressure upon handle 108 of flatiron 100, the
compression springs 130 will urge the skirt 126 up to 2.5 centimeters or
one inch below the lower surface 103 of metallic sole plate 102 to
disengage contact between lower surface 103 of metallic sole plate 102
with the material to be ironed. As is apparent, by turning the nuts 132,
the location of the skirt 126 relative to the sole plate 102 can be
selectively adjusted to allow the skirt 126 to extend below the lower
surface 103 of sole plate 102 anywhere from being in alignment with the
lower surface 103 to approximately 2.5 centimeters or one inch below the
lower surface 103.
Although I have shown the specific construction and arrangement of the
parts and features constituting two preferred embodiments of my invention,
changes may be made in the parts and features without departing from the
proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims and without
affecting the operativeness of the invention.
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